John Ridley Joins Shonda Rhimes at ABC, Inking an Extended Development Deal w/ the Network

John Ridley Joins Shonda Rhimes at ABC, Inking an Extended Development Deal w/ the Network

John Ridley has inked an overall deal with ABC that will see the writer/director/producer develop new projects for the studio.

The Oscar-winning writer of “12 Years a Slave,” already has one new project set up at ABC – the upcoming crime drama “American Crime,” which will debut on the network next season due midseason — studio.

made the announcement Tuesday during his time at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour.

“He’s an extraordinary showrunner,” ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee said during his announcement of the deal last week.

Ridely also has his Jimi Hendrix feature film (starring Andre Benjamin) on the horizon. XLrator Media (the film’s distribution company) has set a September 26, 2014 theatrical release.

Ridley joins Shonda Rhimes as another black showrunner on the ABC network.